The Villa Park Village Board’s Aug. 24 regular meeting included discussions and disagreements between board members about recordings, transcripts, investigations, and use of village stationary. Village Clerk Rolf Laukant, who had been absent from the board’s three meetings in July, along with the Aug. 10 meeting, attended the Aug. 24 meeting and engaged in brief exchanges with Village President Kevin Patrick and Trustee Jack Kozar.
The Aug. 24 meeting also included a suggestion from Trustee Cari Alfano that representatives from the Illinois Municipal League help the board conduct an evaluation in an effort to ease tensions between board members. Alfano referred to trust on the board as “waning” and “broken” while making her recommendation.
All seven board members attended the Aug. 24 meeting. All seven board members attended the start of the Aug. 10 meeting, but shortly after that meeting began, Patrick distributed documents to board members that contained a reported transcript of a December 2025 discussion between Trustee Khalid Sabri and Villa Park Finance Director Suzy Mika. According to Patrick, Sabri secretly recorded that discussion, without Mika’s knowledge. Patrick’s distribution of those documents was not on the agenda for the Aug. 10 meeting. Shortly after he handed the documents out at that meeting, Patrick called a brief recess for board members to examine the documents. When the meeting reconvened, Sabri and Alfano were absent from the dais.
Patrick stated during the Aug. 10 meeting that he found portions of the transcript deeply concerning. He said the transcript contained discussions about village employees, elected officials, and village finances. Other documents that Patrick distributed noted that the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office investigated the matter of Sabri recording his conversation with Mika and decided not to pursue legal charges.
Kumar criticizes Patrick’s release of supposed transcript
Trustee Deepa Kumar stated during the Aug. 24 meeting that there was “a lot of clarity lacking” in the transcript Patrick distributed on Aug. 10. Kumar, who said that the document caused stress to Mika, stated that Mika’s employment status should be frozen while an investigation takes place. Kumar also stated she wanted a formal resolution “calling out” what she called Patrick’s unauthorized use of village letterhead to distribute the documents at the Aug. 10 meeting.
Patrick said during the Aug. 24 meeting that in his capacity as village president, he had the authority to use village stationary/letterhead to distribute the documents he handed out during the Aug. 10 meeting. Patrick added that he thought it was odd that he was being attacked for using village letterhead when a trustee allegedly made an unauthorized recording of a conversation with a village employee.
Trustee Jorge Cordova then called for a point of order to end discussion of the issue. “Now they’re trying to silence me,” responded Patrick, who then stated, “What are you guys trying to hide? If Villa Park wants a conspiracy, look right here. This is getting out of hand.”
Trustee Tina Konstatos said at the Aug. 10 and Aug. 24 meetings that Sabri handed her the printed transcript of his supposed recording of his conversation with Mika. Konstatos stated that she did not read the transcript, and put it in an envelope containing other documents. According to Konstatos, when recent issues with Laukant came up, she handed those documents to Patrick, who then became aware of the transcript.
Patrick still waits to hear recording of June 29 executive session
Patrick stated during the Aug. 24 meeting that Alfano, Cordova, Kumar and Sabri called on Friday, June 26, for a special meeting to be held on Monday, June 29. Patrick, whose father had just passed away, did not attend that meeting. Kozar, who was out of town, was also absent from that meeting. Patrick and Kozar have demanded that Laukant provide them with a recording of the executive session discussion from that June 29 meeting, which reportedly included discussion of any action the board might take regarding Village Manager Michael Rivas and/or other village employees.
On July 6, board members voted 7-0 to adopt a resolution appointing a Chicago law firm, Laner Muchin, to conduct an employment investigation. Laner Muchin has reportedly also requested access to the recording of the June 29 executive session discussion.
Board members considered a resolution during the Aug. 24 meeting that authorized “the limited disclosure of certain executive session verbatim recordings related to employment investigation.” That resolution passed in a 4-3 vote. Cordova, Konstatos and Kozar voted in favor of the resolution, while Alfano, Kumar and Sabri voted against it. Patrick then voted in favor of the resolution.
Patrick went through a timeline during the Aug. 24 meeting to note his several messages to Laukant demanding a copy of the recording of the executive session discussion from the June 29 meeting. Patrick also noted that the board had passed a resolution in July ordering Laukant to turn over a copy of that recording. As Patrick went through that timeline, he referred to Kozar’s Aug. 21 email to Laukant, requesting access to that recording. According to Patrick, Laukant responded to Kozar, telling him to get a court order. Later on Aug. 21, Laukant reportedly emailed Kozar and stated, “Do not throw me under the bus.” Laukant’s email to Kozar allegedly included some more explicit language, and also stated, “Do not ever show your face in Villa Park ever again.”
Laukant says he has legal representation; will not turn over recording
In the Aug. 24 meeting’s segment for the clerk’s report, Laukant read from a prepared statement. “During the execution of my official duties as village clerk for the Village of Villa Park, I became aware of illegal activities necessitating legal scrutiny, analysis and investigation,” said Laukant, who added that he is currently engaged with independent counsel and that he is “prohibited from sharing further details, documents or commentary to ensure the integrity of the legal process.”
Laukant then paraphrased a quote from a 1974 movie.
“Mongo sad. Mongo just a pawn in the chess game of life.”
When Patrick asked Laukant for clarification, the clerk responded, “It’s from Blazing Saddles.” Patrick then said he wanted clarification for the statement, not the quote. The exact quote from the film is “Mongo only pawn in game of life.”
After Laukant stated that he would not violate the oath of his office, Patrick said the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office report from the incident regarding the transcript of the conversation allegedly recorded by Sabri contained allegations that were found to have no credibility or evidence.
“Did I mention DuPage County?” responded Laukant, who then accused Patrick of trying to “deflect and dodge” before adding an expletive that could be translated as “BS.”
Kumar takes issue with Patrick’s document release
In the Aug. 24 meeting’s segment for reports from trustees, Kumar referred to a communication breakdown and institutional friction among board members. She referred to Patrick’s distribution of documents at the Aug. 10 meeting as a “political hit” and again mentioned that Patrick used village stationary for the documents he distributed. She also said Patrick could have provided the board with the documents several days earlier instead of providing them at the start of the Aug. 10 meeting.
Kumar stated she wanted an investigation of the matter involving the transcript. She said that she had no recording of the conversation, and asked if it existed.
“Our board is defunct,” said Kumar, who likely meant to convey that the board was dysfunctional. “We’re putting pressure on our staff.”
Sabri had the opportunity to address his alleged recording of a conversation with Mika when he spoke during the segment for reports for trustees. He spoke briefly and said he received the documents from Patrick during the Aug. 10 meeting. He referred to the documents as “fabricated” but did not elaborate. Sabri said he had been asking the same questions for a long time and asked people to review three meetings held in December 2025.
Konstatos addressed Sabri during her trustee’s report and stated, “You know the truth, and so do I.”
Kozar confronts Laukant and questions Sabri’s fitness to serve on the board
Kozar, in his trustee’s report, addressed Laukant. He mentioned Laukant’s reported threatening email, advising him not to show his face in Villa Park.
“Pretty classy guy,” said Kozar of Laukant. Kozar went on to accuse Laukant of cowardice for not stating what his issues were. “If you have an issue with me, tell me what it is,” said Kozar. “Don’t threaten me.”
Kozar said he had a right to listen to the recording of the June 29 executive session. He asked Laukant to let him listen to the recording. Laukant then referred to his prepared statement.
“Regarding this matter, I’ve been instructed by independent counsel to refrain from sharing any information or providing commentary at this time.”
When Kozar asked Laukant to confirm who his attorney is, Laukant said he didn’t have to tell him. “Has anybody ever in your life told you no?” stated Laukant to Kozar. “Because I’m telling you, no.”
Kozar went on to address Sabri’s claim that the reported transcript of the conversation with Mika had been fabricated. Kozar asked why Sabri would exit the Aug. 10 meeting if the transcript was fake.
“I think we just saw Trustee Sabri, the only unelected trustee up here, outright lie to all of Villa Park, and all of the board, and I question his truth,” said Kozar. “I question his integrity. I question his ethics, and I don’t think he’s fit to serve on this board.”
Patrick spoke during the village president’s report and said he was taken aback by Sabri. He said that Sabri went to authorities to report illegal and criminal activity, but that no cases were opened because there was no evidence to support his claims.
“I am taken aback by the behavior, by the attitude, and the lack of responses,” said Patrick, who asked if there were any other recordings or transcripts. “Villa Park deserves better.”
Patrick appointed Sabri to the village board last year. After Patrick won the 2025 election for village president, he still had two years remaining on his four-year term as a trustee. Patrick, who served as a trustee for six years, appointed Sabri to serve the final two years of his term (2023-2027).
The board will hold its next regular meeting on Sept. 14.
